Coming directly off the heels of “Sorcerer’s Stone,” “Chamber of Secrets” ups the ante across all areas – the production design is richer and more intricate, the cinematography more deeply dramatic, and the script more focused (despite the film being the longest so far). The three principal actors also seem to be growing more comfortable with their characters and with the work in general. Though not the best film of the series, like the novel on which it’s based, it is surprisingly good when it probably could have gotten away with just doing more of the same.

The Ultimate Edition includes the theatrical and an extended version of the film. The latter adds 13 minutes to the run time, reinstating the scenes that were first made available on the DVD release (and which are available for viewing in two locations in this edition’s extras). The additional footage doesn’t add much to the film as a whole (and in some cases seems redundant), but those wanting more of the Harry Potter universe actualized on screen will probably be pleased.

The In-Movie Experience is engaging, the second part of the documentary is entertaining, the book and trading cards are nice, and the construction and design of the packaging is first rate. The Ultimate Edition makes for a nice package, but individuals will have to figure out for themselves how much more they are willing to pay for it. Currently, the Ultimate Edition is priced about $15 more than the standard single-disc BD. Probably worth it if the extras will be revisited, but if not, that $15 can buy a whole other BD title that is certain to be watched again. Given the choice, I imagine many will opt for the standard BD edition, making this Ultimate Edition only for the most ultimate of Potter fans.

Keep an eye out for Years 3-7  — if my guess is right 3 and 4 will come out around the time part 1 of Deathly Hallows hits theaters, 5 and 6, around the same time in 2010, and 7 about a year later.

Disc-Based Extras

Disc One

In-Movie Experience: The picture-in-picture video commentary feature incorporates still image galleries, storyboard comparisons, behind-the-scenes footage, and director Chris Columbus explaining technical and logistical challenges of numerous scenes. Though there is not a separate way to access the storyboards and image galleries, it does allow the viewer to skip to the next commentary segment without having to sit through the entirety of the film. It’s an improvement to the accessibility issues but still not a perfect solution.

BD-Live: Includes a streaming trailer and information about two BD-Live events on December 7th and December 12th. December 7th is a preview of the upcoming “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” and December 12th is a live community screening of “Half Blood Prince” with Daniel Radcliffe and David Yates. Go to www.harrypotter.com/blu-ray for more information.

Disc Two

Creating the World of Harry Potter Part 2: Characters (1:20:03, HD): The second installment begins and ends with the experience and development of the three main actors, from their total lack of experience when the franchise began to where they are now as seasoned professionals. In between these topical bookends, the documentary addresses practically every character from the first six films, usually with recollections and analysis from the actors who played them. Though the piece uses a fair amount of previously produced material, a nice organic flow to the narrative and enough recent interview footage keeps it from feeling like just a re-purposed set of clips. Though there aren’t necessarily any fresh insights, it makes a pretty familiar topic feel surprisingly unexplored.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Revealed (13:02, SD): The HBO “First Look” promotional special from 2002 hits the requisite topics of story and characters.

Teaser Trailer (2:06, SD)

Theatrical Trailer (2:11, HD)

TV Spots (9:01, SD): Seventeen commercials made for television.

Screen Tests of Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson (11:53, HD): First screen tests of the actors, as featured in Part One of the “Creating the World…” documentary. Radcliffe’s solo test runs 7:57 and the test with the trio runs 3:55.

Deleted Scenes (17:02, HD): Nineteen scenes, the same as those found on Disc Three.

Disc Three

Additional Scenes (16:25, SD): Nineteen scenes total.

Spellcaster Knowledge: Answer trivia about the various spells cast in the film.

Lockhart’s Classroom (1:28, SD): A guided tour of various items in Lockhart’s classroom, including his photos, awards and certificates, and his collected works.

A Conversation with J.K. Rowling and Steve Kloves (16:09, SD): Rowling and Kloves talk about adapting the novels to film, differences between the two mediums and their feelings about how “Chamber of Secrets” turned out.

Dumbledore’s Office: Take a walk-around tour of the office set or “build a scene,” which leads to a documentary (17:20, SD) that gives an overview of film production, including production design, set decoration, props, visual effects, cinematography, wardrobe, hair and makeup, and post-production.

Interviews with Students (8:43, SD): The child actors answer various questions, including the evolution of their characters, how they’ve developed as actors and experiences on set.

Interviews with Professors and More (10:35, SD): The adult actors talk about their respective characters.

Gallery of Production Sketches: Eighteen sets of sketches showing various treatments of the characters and scenes.

Activities (SD): Includes the Chamber Challenge (answer trivia), the Forbidden Forest Challenge (test your reflexes), Colin’s Darkroom (create a photo slideshow), and a walk-around tour of Diagon Alley.

Game Preview: Watch various clips from the “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” video game from Electronic Arts.

Disc Four

Digital Copy: Download a digital file of the theatrical version for playback on a computer or portable device. Compatible with Mac and Windows.

In the aftermath of Judgment Day and the machine takeover, resistance leader John Connor (Christian Bale) must counter Skynet’s plan to terminate mankind. Rallying his underground street fighters for a last, desperate battle, he realizes that to save the future he must rescue his own father Kyle Reese (Anton Yelchin). But the most shocking discovery comes with the arrival of Marcus Wright (Sam Worthington), a mysterious loner from the past who challenges Connor with an impossible choice and leads them both on a brutal journey into the heart of the enemy.

Witness the battle between man and machine in the gritty action epic as TERMINATOR SALVATION blasts its way onto Blu-ray and DVD on December 1st from Warner Home Video.  The newest installment in the adrenaline-fueled hit Terminator franchise stars Christian Bale (Batman Begins, The Dark Knight) as John Connor, leader of the human resistance in a post-Judgment Day world ravaged by deadly Terminators.

The TERMINATOR SALVATION 2-Disc Blu-ray includes both the theatrical version (PG-13) and the Director’s Cut (Rated R) with explosive additional footage not shown in theaters.  Packed with over 2 hours of spectacular bonus, the Blu-ray version features the immersive Maximum Movie Mode, an interactive viewer experience where the entire film is examined using “Walk-On” technology that enables viewers to see Director McG deconstruct key moments from the film. Also included is over 40 minutes of Picture In Picture (PiP) commentary with cast and crew, 11 mini featurette focus points, storyboard comparisons, still galleries, and a Terminator mythology timeline.  Additionally, the Blu-ray contains Re-Forging the Future, a behind-the-scenes look at the film’s production, and The Moto-Terminator, a featurette revealing how the film’s visual effects crew and motorcycle manufacturer Ducati partnered to create the slick and deadly Moto-Terminators.  The Blu-ray will also include a theatrical version of the film available on a Digital Copy disc.

Additional content available via BD-Live includes a compilation of 10 viral videos from the alternate reality game “Resist or Be Terminated” revealing SKYNET’s secret plans, the first episode of Terminator Salvation Machinima Series, and a digital version of Issue #1 of the Terminator Salvation official movie prequel comic.  Plus, viewers can organize Live Community Screenings, and record their own commentaries using the “My Commentary” BD-Live feature.

Terminator Salvation is not only a loud, action-packed, and special effects-heavy summer extravaganza, but also a pitch-perfect extension to the series while also offering a somewhat meaningful look at what it means to be human and man’s superiority to machine. Terminator Salvation also introduces new characters and technologies but never leaves the confines of established franchise lore, and the result is an exciting visual spectacle that also carries on the series’ legacy while simultaneously creating its own identity within the Terminator universe. Warner Brothers’ Blu-ray release of Terminator Salvation delivers a stunning 1080p transfer and a deafening reference-quality soundtrack that’s among the very best Blu-ray has to offer.

TERMINATOR SALVATION BLU-RAY AND DVD ELEMENTS
SD Content:
•    Theatrical Version of the Film:

Exclusive to Blu-ray™ Content:
•    Two Versions of the Film:
o    Theatrical Cut (Rated PG-13)
o    Director’s Cut (Rated R) – Includes explosive new footage not seen in theaters.
•    Maximum Movie Mode featuring Director McG deconstructing the film’s key moments, 11 mini featurette focus points, over 40 minutes of Picture (PiP) commentary with cast and crew interviews, storyboard comparisons, still galleries, Terminator mythology timeline and more.
•    “The Moto-Terminator” – See how the Terminator Salvation visual effects crew and Ducati partnered to create the slick and deadly Moto-Terminator!
•    “Re-Forging the Future” – Go behind the scenes of Terminator Salvation with an exclusive set tour.

BD LIVE Content Includes:
•    Compilation of 10 viral videos from the “Resist or Be Terminated” alternate reality game revealing SKYNET’s secret plans.
•    The first episode of Terminator Salvation Machinima Series
•    Digital version of Issue #1 of the Terminator Salvation official movie prequel comic.

Digital Copy on Disc
•    Theatrical version of the film

While the first Night at the Museum was an enjoyable enough piece of escapism, I never felt the need for a sequel.  I loved the setup, and yet by film’s end was pretty much ready to move on.  Everybody had learned a valuable lesson, as per tradition in these type of films, and I didn’t really think there was a lot left to do with the premise.  Because of this, I began watching Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian, newly released on Blu-Ray, with a decided lack of excitement.  And yet I ended up loving it.

Both films revolve around Ben Stiller’s character of Larry Daley, and what happens to him over the course of a single evening in a museum where the exhibits come to life.  The first film took place at the Museum of Natural History, and as indicated in the title, the sequel takes place in the Smithsonian.  In typical sequel fashion, this means that everything is bigger, better, and with a lot more of it.

But instead of just throwing more stuff at us and seeing what sticks, the filmmakers actually manage to utilize the expanded world.  Part of what makes this work so well is the interaction between the exhibits that would serve no logical purpose being together.  By placing the action in the Smithsonian there is a great deal of variety between the exhibits, and seeing them come together in such a way is a great deal of fun.

Being able to actually enter the paintings and interact with the sculptures brings a whole new level to this museum.  And when Daley takes a chase sequence into a classic WWII photograph, everything about this movie begins to click.  The creativity on display is way beyond anything in the first film.  Helping fuel this creativity is an amazing cast of new actors including Hank Azaria, Jonah Hill, Bill Hader, and on and on.

Everybody from the first film returns as well, but the absolute highlight is one of the new additions.  Amy Adams is brilliant in the role of Amelia Earhart (or at least a wax replica of her).  Playing a caricatured version of Earhart, Adams fast-talks her way through every scene leaving Stiller’s character desperate to keep up.  When he tells her that one of her exclamations sounds made up even for her, she replies “it’s how I speak.”  She then gives a normal line of dialogue as comparison and questions “where’s the fun in that?”

That brief exchange encapsulates everything that works about this film.  Everybody seems to be having fun.  There is not one weak link in the cast and everybody gets a moment to shine.  On top of this, the special effects are a blast to watch.  There is nothing revolutionary about them, but they are perfect for this type of film.  By manipulating real art and exhibits we are all familiar with and putting them in the context of this story, the effects begin to actually feel special.

There are several features on the Blu-Ray that showcase these effects, as well as demonstrating the genuine excitement the cast and crew seem to have for the material.  Not all of the extra features are winners, but there are some surprisingly interesting segments demonstrating what goes into creating a film of this scope.  Director Shawn Levy’s enthusiasm frequently comes through in these segments as he demonstrates how they filmed the WWII sequence, the Air and Space sequence, etc.  One of the best features on the set is a segment that follows Levy around for an entire day of filming.  I love watching filmmakers at work, and this feature provides a great insight into the several aspects of being a director. 

Unfortunately, not all of the extras are quite as interesting as this one.  There are a lot of generic behind-the-scenes features, including a couple of Fox Movie Channel segments, a gag reel that consists of everybody laughing at themselves, and three (!) features on the monkey from the film.  Overall, it’s a pretty uneven set of extras, alternating between the terrific and the bland. 

But the features that do work, as well as the film itself, make this a Blu-Ray worth purchasing.  Despite all odds, this ended up a thoroughly entertaining movie.  Unlike after the first film, I will keep an open mind when they announce the inevitable Part III, and I might find myself actually looking forward to seeing the further museum-based adventures of Larry Daley and friends.  Especially if Amelia Earhart is going with him.

Disney’s irresistible talking pups are back in SANTA BUDDIES: THE LEGEND OF SANTA PAWS, a heartwarming, all-new holiday adventure coming to Blu-ray combo pack and DVD on November 24, 2009 from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment. The beloved pups take a fantastic journey to the North Pole in an exciting new escapade featuring more new friends, fun, and teamwork than ever before unleashing a stocking full of holiday cheer with a fun-filled film and plenty of never-before-seen bonus material. Perfectly timed for holiday gift giving, SANTA BUDDIES: THE LEGEND OF SANTA PAWS is sure to be at the top of everyone’s wish list!

Few things are more appealing, adorable and elicit bigger enthusiasm than man’s best friend.  From classic Old Yeller to classy Beverly Hills Chihuahua to animated Bolt, one of Hollywood’s surest ways to delight audiences of all ages lies firmly at the feet of our four-legged friends.  Since the 1997 big-screen debut of the sports-minded Golden Retriever star “Buddy,” audiences have thrilled to the high-stakes antics in the AIR BUD movie series with its fantastic sports-themed adventures including basketball, football, soccer, volleyball and even America’s national pastime – baseball!

A quintet of adorable talking puppies followed the “Bud” movies in 2006, with the highly-anticipated launch of the BUDDIES series – and a puppy craze began as AIR BUDDIES became the biggest live-action Direct-To-DVD movie of the year!

Following in those triumphant paw prints, the wise-cracking pups went North to Alaska to compete in a daring dogsled adventure, barking up yet another #1 for 2008, as SNOW BUDDIES crossed the finish line as the best-selling live-action Direct-to-DVD of all time*!  Released to Disney DVD in February 2009, SPACE BUDDIES sent the puppies where no dog has gone before, and rocketed another hit into the homes of millions. Now comes SANTA BUDDIES: THE LEGEND OF SANTA PAWS, arriving this holiday season on Disney Blu-Ray hi-def and DVD, and sure to be their greatest and most heart warming adventure yet.
 
“The overwhelming success of each of our ‘Buddies’ adventures really highlights how irresistible Disney Dog movies are and what great family entertainment can be,” said Bob Chapek, President, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment. “SANTA BUDDIES: THE LEGEND OF SANTA PAWS is destined to become a new holiday classic, securing the Buddies’ place in the long lineage of Disney Dogs.” 

In SANTA BUDDIES: THE LEGEND OF SANTA PAWS, the lovable “Buddies,” B-Dawg, Budderball, Buddha, Mudbud, and Rosebud embark on a thrilling journey to the magical world of Santa’s Workshop. When Puppy Paws, the fun-loving son of Santa Paws, gets tired of the North Pole, he checks out Santa’s “naughty” list and finds Budderball’s name right on top. Puppy Paws heads south to meet the Buddies and find out how “ordinary” pups spend their days. But when the world begins to forget the true meaning of the holidays and the magic of the season begins to literally melt away, it’s up to Puppy Paws and his newfound Buddies to save the day in another epic adventure. Their extraordinary exploits highlight the importance of collaboration, courage and tradition in a joyous celebration of life and friendship. Sure to be a family favorite for years to come, SANTA BUDDIES: THE LEGEND OF SANTA PAWS delivers enough holiday cheer to last a whole year!  It’s Buddy-loving fun the whole family will enjoy again and again.

Santa Buddies will entrance young, patient pre-schoolers, but leave most other kids in the cold. Meanwhile, parents will be left suppressing laughs, hiding critical glances, and containing their cynicism. Ah well, at least its Blu-ray release has some value. While its supplemental package is nearly non-existent, it features a decent video transfer and a commendable DTS-HD Master Audio track.

Running just 88 minutes (including credits), Four Christmases feels like little more than an extended sitcom with a movie-star cast. The concept involves a couple, Brad and Kate (Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon), both of whom have divorced parents, who opt to sneak away on vacation every Christmas rather than spend time with their extended families. Through a contrived series of events, their families end up discovering the deception, and they are forced to spend Christmas going from one set of parents to the next, experiencing a total of “Four Christmases.”

By the very nature of the premise, this is an extremely episodic movie. As Brad and Kate go from one household to the next, they are placed in simplistically comical situations. As I said, it feels like a series of sitcom plots; that is, entertaining, but completely devoid of substance. The filmmakers attempt to shoehorn in valuable life-lessons about family, and of course, Brad and Kate evolve as a couple thanks to their experiences. However, none of this really matters in the end. This isn’t a movie you watch in order to learn anything. You watch to laugh, and I have to admit, it does get kind of funny on occasion.

The first Christmas involves Brad’s father and brothers. They are a poor, redneck family, and the dichotomy of this family with the upper-class couple of Brad and Kate ended up being very funny. The gift exchange in this sequence was a comedic high-point for the film, and I loved watching the tension escalate throughout the sequence. Jon Favreau really stands out as Brad’s brother, a tattooed cage-fighter all too eager to violently demonstrate his career.

Lending credibility to this sequence is Robert Duvall as their father. One of many unexpected big names to make an appearance, he is very funny as he watches Brad inadvertently destroy his home. I was really surprised to discover how many big names they were actually able to get. Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon already seem too good for this material, but as the film progressed, I was shocked to see actors such as Jon Voight, Sissy Spacek, etc. begin making appearances. It really is a great cast for such a small, forgettable film.

As Brad and Kate went from one Christmas to the next, I found the formula frustrating. As they go from house to house, they find themselves forced to evaluate their relationship, but I just didn’t believe that the situations they endured would lead to the transformations they end up going through. It all felt very forced and structured in order to lead to an inevitable happy ending. My problem is that they were happy right from the beginning. The problems they discover in their relationship are manufactured by the contrivance of their situation.  By the end of the day, when they are essentially different people, it doesn’t feel necessary.

However, none of this should really matter if the movie is entertaining. And it is. It’s a very slight film, instantly forgettable, but kind of fun while watching. This is the kind of movie you would rent when bored, and it would entertain you. However, you would forget you ever saw it ten minutes later. Just as forgettable are the Blu-Ray extras. There is a ten-minute segment that briefly covers the making of only two sequences, and neither segment is all that insightful. There is the HBO First Look that was made for the film. I’ve always disliked these segments, as they never provide any insight into the film, but rather serve as an extended commercial. Another extra is a really lame fake cooking special with celebrity cook Paula Deen. She teams up with one of the redneck characters and they show how to make a “seven layer holiday meal” that is an extension on a joke from the film. It isn’t funny at all. Then there is the usual gag reel, which consists of nothing but people laughing at themselves, and around 7-8 minutes of deleted scenes. I didn’t laugh at a single one, and none of them do anything to enhance the story.

Overall, this movie is nothing but a time-filler. I had a moderately good time, but I would definitely not recommend purchasing the film. If you’ve seen everything else, and you’re really bored, you could do worse. There are occasional laughs, and it can be fun to watch some well-known actors just having a good time. But overall, nobody is going to remember that this ever existed. It will come and go, and be simply a footnote on the careers of everyone involved.

Check out the official site: http://www.fourchristmasesmovie.com

Last November, I wrote a pretty scathing review of the seventh season of Scrubs.  It pained me to watch one of my favorite comedies devolve into the mess it had become, but I tried to remain positive.  I ended my review with the hope that the writers would find a “new level of creativity that has been long missing,” and that they “remember to be funny while they are doing it.”  Well, I am thrilled to say that they succeeded on both counts. 


A large part of this improvement can be attributed to all the new characters.  This season found a new group of interns joining the Sacred Heart staff, and in a perfect example of a show coming full circle, the characters that began the show as interns eight years ago must now train the new batch.  As well as providing a thematically perfect season, these new additions also proved to be a hilarious group of comic foils for the leads to play off.  All the interns were cliched stereotypes on the surface (the tough one, the peppy one, etc.), but there was a depth to them that was unexpected and thoroughly entertaining.  As the season went along, they became real characters, and I found myself just as involved in their stories as those of the leads. 


Now don’t get me wrong, this season isn’t perfect.  Every year, Scrubs has a gimmick episode (the musical, the sitcom, the fantasy, etc.) and this season found the gang in the Bahamas.  This two-part episode was painfully unfunny, and although it tried to acknowledge the ridiculousness of the situation with several references to a similarly themed Brady Bunch episode, the whole thing fell flat.  Coming right in the middle of the season, it didn’t fit with the rest of the year. 
 


One of the longest extras on the newly released Season 8 Blu-Ray is a documentary about the filming of this “very special episode” in the Bahamas.  They acknowledge the ridiculousness of the whole premise, but seemed to genuinely think they were making a hilarious episode.  They weren’t.  Interestingly, the biggest feature on the Season 7 release was also a documentary about their gimmick episode (a Monty Python-esque fantasy), and it too was pretty bland.  While I love the show, the Blu-Ray extras could definitely be more compelling.
 


Having said that, I did enjoy the Webisodes included on the disc.  They feature the interns (in case you can’t tell, I really like this group), and while they do include cameos from the principal cast, they also showcase the ability of these characters to carry their own show.  There are rumors about a possible spin-off, and I really hope we get that show someday.
 


The Blu-Ray also includes some mildly funny bloopers, deleted scenes, etc.  Overall, it’s a solid set, but I thought this great season deserved a better release.  I should also note that the Season (series?) finale is one of the most perfect endings to a sitcom I have ever seen.  I don’t want to give anything away, but it is a beautiful ending; artistic and emotionally satisfying.  It gives closure to all of the main characters in an incredibly moving way.  Any desire I had for another season was immediately removed after this, and I really hope that we get to remember seeing these characters for the last time in this perfect ending.

On November 17, Warner Home Video (WHV) will honor the romantic epic with a stunningly restored and remastered version, available for the first time on Blu-ray™.  Gone with the Wind 70th Anniversary Ultimate Collectors Edition is sure to be a “must-have” for collectors of classic films, available both in Blu-ray as well as on DVD.

Gone with the Wind is the grandest, most ambitious and spectacular piece of filmmaking in cinematic history. With more than 50 speaking roles and 2400 extras, the film is the quintessential Hollywood epic – considered a “must have” for collectors, and one that can be watched again and again for generations to come.
 
Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh, Leslie Howard and Olivia de Havilland star in Gone with the Wind, which for more than a half century has thrilled audiences with its eternal love affair, set in the South against the backdrop of the Civil War, between handsome Rhett Butler (Gable) and his sassy, headstrong heroine Scarlett O’Hara (Leigh). With each new generation, Gone with the Wind continues to grow in popularity as new audiences discover and embrace the David O. Selznick production of Margaret Mitchell’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel.

The movie is part of today’s pop culture. With memorable scenes and unforgettable dialogue, this movie is timeless. The burning of Atlanta, the long staircase in Scarlett O’Hara’s house, Tara, Scarlet wearing a dress made of draperies, and many more scenes are embedded in the minds of movie lovers.

Scarlett’s statements of “As God is my witness, I’ll never be hungry again,” “Fiddle-dee-dee,” “I’ll think about that tomorrow,” and “Tomorrow is another day” are engrained in the memories of fans. Prissy’s unforgettable utterance of “I don’t know nothin’ ‘bout birthin’ babies,” is a line which no on who has seen the film can forget. And finally, Rhett Butler had some treasured lines, including telling Scarlett, “You should be kissed and often, and by someone who knows how,” which melts the hearts of female viewers. But his most memorable line is part of movie history. “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.” This one line caught the attention of moviegoers seventy years ago, when no swear words had been uttered on the big screen.

TWO DISC DVD SPECIAL FEATURES
Disc 1 The Movie, Part 1

·                Remastered feature with Dolby Digital 5.1 Audio

·                Commentary by historian Rudy Behlmer

DISC 2 The Movie, Part 2

·       Remastered feature

·       Commentary by historian Rudy Behlmer

·       Offer for a numbered Limited Edition copy of the Original 1939 Poste

Ho, ho, heyooo! Christmas is nearly here and the Paddy’s gang has got the spirit. Well, not really.  For them, the holidays have always been a time of trickery, backstabbing, and disappointment.  But this year things are going to be different as they are determined to rediscover the joy in Christmas.  Join Mac, Charlie, Dennis, Dee and Frank as they embark on a holiday adventure filled with stolen toys, childhood videos, naked elves and a bloody run in with Santa Claus that is guaranteed to blast Christmas spirit all over!

‘Tis the season to be ill-suited. Pop open a bottle and toast to the most deviant, offensive and unwholesome bar owners in “Philly” as they celebrate the holidays in the raunchiest way possible when the never-before-seen It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia: A Very Sunny Christmas exclusively debuts on Blu-ray Disc and DVD November 17 from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. Compared to “Seinfeld” as one of the most obscene hilarious shows on television, “It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia” combines crude humor with brilliantly unwholesome commentary while touching on highly controversial topics such as politics, abortion and terrorism, in a way that gives “pushing the limits” a new meaning. In the first never-before-seen feature length comedy, follow Mac, Charlie, Dennis, Frank and Dee as they spread their Christmas spirit with inappropriate childhood videos, a bloody encounter with Santa Claus and all the over-the-top, twisted and politically incorrect behavior the city of brotherly love can handle.

With its fifth season set to premiere September 17, the unconventional original series produced by FX Productions, starring creators and writers Rob McElhenney, Glenn Howerton and Charlie Day, as well as comedy legend Danny Devito (“Taxi”) and fan-favorite Kaitlin Olsen, has continued to gain a hardcore fan base with a strong cult following since the series premiere in 1995 and is now up 97% in ratings since its first season.

The special is very funny and even includes a “Rankin/Bass” type of sequence. Rankin/Bass Productions did the old Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman stop-motion animation specials of the 1960s and this sequence is an episode highlight.

The special runs 43 minutes so it’s basically a double length episode with a bigger budget, more profanity, and on the downside there’s Danny DeVito’s naked butt on the screen.

The extras include a few deleted scenes of young Mac and Charlie, an under 10-minute behind the scenes featurette which could have been a bit longer, and a sing-along. It would have been nice to have commentary since this episode is a bit different than anything the series has done before. It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia: “A Very Sunny Christmas” is definitely worth your viewing time.

The It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia: A Very Sunny Christmas Blu-ray Disc and DVD include behind the scenes footage of the cast and crew as they transform Paddy’s Pub into a winter wonderland, home videos of the gang as children celebrating the holidays and a Christmas Carol “Sunny Sing-A-Long.”

Clerks, Chasing Amy and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back are all wildly different films thematically. And yet writer/director Kevin Smith has such a unique voice they all feel as if they belong together. They’re not just connected by recurring characters, but by his style of filmmaking and ear for dialogue. By releasing all three of these films together on Blu-Ray in the “Kevin Smith 3-Movie Collection,” Miramax has given fans the opportunity to revisit the world of these films, enhancing the connection between them while emphasizing the stylistic differences.

Fifteen years ago, Kevin Smith made his introduction into the world of pop-culture with Clerks, an extremely vulgar, low-budget black and white film. This was independent filmmaking at it’s best. Filled with memorable characters and quotable dialogue, Smith began developing a cult following.

As time went on, he became more and more mainstream. He still had the voice of an independent filmmaker, but he was branching out into the mainstream. Chasing Amy was given a huge release (compared to Clerks), and it felt more like a standard romantic comedy. Smith got Ben Affleck to star in this film of a comic-book artist that falls in love with a lesbian. Affleck tends to do some of his best work in Smith’s films, and this is no exception. Unlike Clerks’ tale of a day in the life of slackers, Chasing Amy attempted to push the audience emotionally. There was a heart to the film, and while it wasn’t any less vulgar than his previous work, it felt decidedly more adult.

Going in the opposite direction, he eventually went on to make his silliest film to date, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. While Smith’s films are all rooted in a solid understanding of pop-culture, this film has the highest degree of pop-culture satire. Smith uses these characters to have a lot of fun at Hollywood’s expense. As any Smith fan knows, Jay and Silent Bob are two recurring characters who show up in many of his films. Silent Bob is even played by Smith himself. Unlike Chasing Amy, this film is pure slapstick. It exists strictly to make you laugh, and at this he definitely succeeds. By far the most slapstick of the group, I personally think this is the most entertaining of the three. Featuring a ton of great cameos, including a fantastic turn by Will Ferrell, this movie is ridiculously stupid, but thoroughly entertaining.

This is really a great set for any fan of these films. The transfers look and sound terrific on Blu-Ray, and there are a ton of extras on each disc. While Clerks definitely has the most bonus material, followed by Chasing Amy, the least amount of extras is on Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. All that is included on this disc is a commentary track with Smith, producer/editor Scott Mosier and Jason Mewes (who plays Jay). However, there is a making of this film on the disc for Clerks. I don’t know why they didn’t put it on the actual film itself, but even with the feature on Clerks and the documentary on the actual disc, there still isn’t a lot of material.

On the other hand, Clerks has a lot of extra material. Unfortunately, most of this footage has been available on previous DVD releases of the film; however, if you don’t already own that DVD, it is a great collection of footage. There are various cuts of the film, as well as various commentary tracks. Other features include cut scenes, a Q&A session, short films, a music video, the trailer, original auditions, outtakes, etc. It really is a packed disc.

While the disc for Chasing Amy doesn’t have as much material as Clerks, it has the most new footage of the three. There is a new documentary called “Tracing Amy,” as well as a Q&A session with the cast 10 years after the release. There is also a newly recorded commentary track w/ Smith and producer Scott Mosier. However, some of the other extras have been released previously. These include deleted scenes, outtakes, and the trailer.

Overall, if you are a fan of Kevin Smith, and specifically these movies, than the box set is definitely worth picking up. This collection is the best these films have ever looked, and despite the fact that not all of the extras are new, it’s still a really strong batch of material. Going through all three of these films, you really get a sense of Smith as a filmmaker. While he’s always had a strong voice, it’s really developed since his debut. There are other great Kevin Smith movies out there (Dogma, for example), but this is still a terrific sampling, and a fantastic showcase of his growth over the years.

Sacha Baron Cohen (the creator and star of Borat) returns to the big screen in the hilarious adventures of Austria’s favorite fashionista, Brüno. In this gleefully anarchic mockumentary, the flamboyant television host loses his homeland talk show, “Funkyzeit,” and does what any self-respecting wannabe would do—he moves to Hollywood to pursue worldwide super-stardom. From worlds of fashion and entertainment to the military, Brüno puts his worst foot forward as Baron Cohen fearlessly tramples the boundaries of good taste in ways that confound celebrities and just plain folks alike. Fans of Baron Cohen’s gonzo comedy can look forward to an hour’s worth of hysterical scenes not shown in theaters on both the DVD and Blu-ray versions.

The inimitable prankster Sacha Baron Cohen (Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan) launches another inspired comedy offensive in the boisterous Brüno, coming to Blu-Ray™ Hi-Def and DVD on November 17, 2009 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment.
 
As in the hugely popular Borat, Sacha Baron Cohen once again creates improvised pandemonium, this time as an Austrian TV host searching for fame and fortune in America, ensnaring everyone he meets in hilariously unpredictable, unscripted and unsuspecting ways.

There are a few moments in Bruno in which Cohen manages to recapture the psychological experimentation that made Borat work so well.  He does a great gag with furniture that really makes you wonder what people are thinking but also reminds you of how easy it is to make people do things that are obviously wrong.  Some of it is shock value or shock’s sake and the whole “OJ” bit doesn’t really work.

The DVD has a wealth of terrific extras. The commentary from director Larry Charles and Cohen is nothing short of astounding. The duo comment on all the scenes, pulling back the curtain to detail what is real and how the movie was shot. It’s easily the best commentary of the year. There are also close to an hour of deleted and extended scenes, many of them extremely funny.

Bitingly funny, sometimes cringe-inducing, and always amusing, Bruno’s the best comedy of the year so far, and the DVD is a must-have. It comes highly recommended.

BONUS FEATURES EXCLUSIVE TO BLU-RAY™ HI-DEF:
Exclusive Video Commentary with Sacha Baron Cohen and Director Larry Charles
BD-LIVE — Allows viewers to connect to the Internet and access new and exciting exclusive online and interactive features, including My Scenes Sharing and My Chat.

BONUS FEATURES (DVD AND BLU-RAY™ HI-DEF):
An hour of Alternative, Deleted and Extended Scenes not shown in theaters
Enhanced Commentary – Hear in depth stories for selected scenes from Sacha Baron Cohen and director Larry Charles.
An Interview with Hollywood Agent Lloyd Robinson – Get the story behind Brüno’s real Hollywood agent.